The North West African Margin Magnetic Anomaly revisited : implications for the initial evolution of the Central Atlantic Ocean

Due to the lack of data from the North West African margin, the Mesozïc evolution of the Central Atlantic is still controversial. Existing plate kinematics (Le Pichon et al, 1977), Wissmann and Roger (1982), Olivet et al, 1984, Klitgord and Schouten, 1986) reconstructions do not explain the characteristics of the S1 Magnetic Anomaly, nor the the presence and geometry of salt basins on the margins off NW Marocco and off Mauritania. We present a new magnetic compilation detailing the correspondance between the different conjugated magnetic anomalies that exist on each side of the Central Atlantic : the East Coast (ECMA), Brunswick (BMA) and Blake Spur (BSMA) Magnetic Anomalies on the American side, and the S1 and West African Coast (WACMA) magnetic anomalies on the African side. In addition, using all available, academic, seismic data, we mapped the ocenawards extension of the salt province of the 200 Ma old Seine Abyssal Plain basin, off Marocco, which is considered as autochtonous.